Loading machine



April 26, 1932.

LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 25, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheeti wmw April 26, 1932. 055 1,855,421

LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2a, 192'? s Shets-Sheet 2 1& 3.

April 26, 1932. Jv oss 1,855,421

LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 26, 1927 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jfivenior: v ohn/lfomy.

Patented Apr. 26, 1932 warren. era:

JOHN REES, OF LTIGHIGAHCITY; INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO. SULLIVAN MACHINERY CdM- Y, A GQRPOEATION OF MAS$ACHU$ETTS LOADING MACHINE This invention relates to loading machines and moreparticularly, but not exclusively, to a coal loading machine having improved power operated swinging mechanismlfor the tail conveyor thereof.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved coal loading machine having improved and simplified means for swinging the tail conveyor thereof. 7 Still another object is 19 to provide improved tail conveyor swinging mechanism which driven directly from the front conveyor, improved driving connections being provided between the front conveyor chains and the rear conveyor swinging mechanism. Yet another object is to provide an improved power operated mechanism for swinging the tail conveyor including a reversing deviceto enable theconveyor to be swung by power in opposite directions in an. improved manner. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

I In the accompanying drawings 1 have shown for purposes of illustration two forms which'my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig.3; 1 is aside elevation of a coal loading machine. having an illustrative embodiment of my improved tail conveyor swinging mechanism incorporated therein,

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinally extending vertical sectional view taken through the loading machine shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical sectional viewtaken substantially on line;33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. t is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 4+4: of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 illustrating a modified form of construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In this illustrative embodiment of the invention there is shown a. coalloading machine which is of the'same general type as that de scribed in a pending'application to one Frank A. I-Ialleck, Ser. No. 160,486, filed Jan. 11, 1927 and generally. comprises. a frame 1 mounted on and propelled by endless traction.

treads 2. Pivotally mounted at 3 on the forward end of the frame 1 a shovel 4,. while,

cooperating with this shovel is a. toothed" gatheringroller 5, the latter also. beinggpive otally mounted, at,6, for vertical swinging. movement on. the frame 1. Thetoothed roll; er 5 is adapted tomovethe loose coal downs.- wardly and .rearwardly. onto the shovelA. Guided on the shovel t: on the frame lisan endless frontor gathering conveyor 7,which. receives the coal moved by. the roller5 onto the shovel 4: and conveys the samerearwardly. lengthwise of the machine. The conveyor 7, discharges onto a tail or .loading.,conveyor, 8 mounted on the framel for horizontal swingg. ing movement about a vertical axis as at 9,; f

As illustrated, the driving connections for. the front conveyor 7comprise a.n1otor.101 herein of theus'ua-l electric type having. a-hori zontal armature shaft 11 extendinglongi tudinally ofthemachine. The shaftllhals.

bevel gearlS carries aseriesof clutch; plates.

17 which are interleaved with a correspondingseries of clutchplates 18-carried hya clutch membenlQ threadedly.connected to a sleeve 2O, the latter-surrounding the shaft .15: and journaled in suitable bearingsQli Slide ably mounted on. the. sleeve 20; is a clutchz ap plying member 22 which is normally-main; tained in its applied. position by means of ca coiled spring 23 encircling the sleeveQO and; reacting against a flange 24 onthe latter. The. member22 is adapted to be released against the tension ofthe spring 23 by meansofa shipper yoke 25 pivotallymounted on thema: chine frame and having; suitable'operating means including a lever 26. Inaccordance with this illustrative embodimentof the-invention the sleeve 20 has keyed thereto at 27".

a spurpinion 28 which meshes with a large.

spur gear 29 fixed at 80 to a horizontal shaft.

31 extending transversely of the machineparallel with and above the shaft.15.. Theshaft. 31 is journaled in bearings 32 suitably carried by the machine frame andhas fixed thereto at,

33 chain sprockets 34 which engage the endless side chains 35 of the front conveyor 7. is clearly described in the copending application mentioned above, the tail conveyor 8 is driven from the rear end of the motor through connections including a drive chain 36 (see Fig. 2) engaging a sprocket 37 secured to the conveyor drive shaft 38. Also suitably fixed to the shaft 31 are chain sprockets 39, only one of which is shown, which drive through endless chain connections the toothed gathering roller 5. However. as the specific driving connections for the tail conveyor 8 and toothed gathering roller 5 form no part of the present invention,further description of the same is submitted to be unnecessary.

The improved power operated swinging mechanism for the tail conveyor 8 comprises a horizontal shaft 41 disposed transversely of the machine and journaled in suitable bearings 42 carried thereon. This shaft has thereto at 43 chain sprockets 44 which directlyengage and are driven by the lower portions or strands of the endless side chains 35 of the front conveyor 7 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 4, splined at 45 to the shaft 41 for axial sliding movement relative thereto is a clutch shipper member 46. Engaging a peripheral groove on the shipper member 46 is a clutch shipper yoke 47 pivoted at 48 on a clutch and transmission housing 49 rigidly secured to the side of the machine frame 1. This shipper yoke 47 is provided with an operating lever 50. Formed on opposite sides of the shipper member 46 are conical surfaces 51 which are adapted to alternatively engage conical surfaces 52 formed on clutch members 53 and 54 respectively. In this instance the clutch member 53 is keyed at 55 to the hub of a chain sprocket 56 rotatably mounted on a bearing sleeve 57 supported by the shaft 41. This sprocket 56 is connected through an endless chain con nection 58 to a chain sprocket 59 keyed at 60 to a shaft 61 arranged parallel with and in the rear of the shaft 41 heretofore described. The clutch member 54 is keyed at 62 to the hub of a spur pinion 63 rotatably mounted on a. bearing sleeve 64 carried by the shaft 41. This pinion meshes with a larger spur gear keyed at 66 to, the shaft 61. From the foregoing, it is evident that when the shipper member 46 is slid outwardly the clutch member 53 is connected to the shaft 41, and as a result the shaft 61 is driven thereby through the chain and sprocket connection 56, 58, 59. When the shipper member 46 is slid inwardlv the clutch member 54 is connected to the shaft 41 and as a result the shaft 61 is driven through the spur gears 63, 65. at the same speed in the reverse direction. As illustrated, slidably mounted on and splined to the shaft 61 at 66 is a .worm 67 which meshes with a worm gear segment 68 rigidly secured by bolts 69 to the frame 70 of the tail conveyor 8. As

shown in Fig. 4, encircling the shaft 61 and engaging the opposite ends of the worm 67 are coiled springs 71 and 72, these springs reacting against ball thrust bearings 73 abutting the inner sides of bearing brackets 74 rigidly fixed to the sides of the machine frame 1, the shaft 61 being suitably journaled in these bearing brackets. The teeth on the worm and worm gear segment are self-locking, and as a result any inadvertent swinging movement of the tail conveyor 8 is prevented when the clutch member 46 is in its released or neutral position.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6 a cable and drum device is substituted for the worm and worm gear segment of the form described above. This form of the invention comprises a winding drum 75 keyed at 76 to the shaft 61, and wound upon this drum is cable 77 having end portions 78 and 79 extending from the drum and engaging a grooved arcuate guide member 80 rigidly fixed to the rear conveyor frame 70. The end portion 78 of this cable leads from the bottom of the drum 75 around a guide roll 81 rotatably mounted on a pin 82 carried by a bracket 83 secured to the machine frame. The end portion 7 8 extends over the guide roll 81 around a portion of the arcuate guide member 80 and is fixed to the latter as at 84. The upper portion 79 of this cable extends from the top of the drum around a guide roll 85 likewise journaled on the pin 82. The portion 79 extends around the guide roll 85 transversely across the machine and around a similar guide roll 86 journaled on a pin 87 can ried by a supporting bracket 88. The portion 79 of the cable extends around the guide roll 86 and engages the guide portion 80 and is fixed at its end at 89 to the opposite side of the tail conveyor frame 70. In this form of the invention improved locking means is provided for preventing inadvertent swinging of the tail conveyor when the shipper 46 is in its neutral position and this locking means comprises a wedge member 90 slidably guided on the housing 49 and connected by a rod 91 to the clutch operating lever 50. This wedge member has oppositely disposed inclined cam surfaces 92 which are adapted to cooperate with a spring pressed plunger 93, the wedge member 90 extending through an opening 94 formed in this plunger. This plunger is guided in a bracket 95 fixed to the machine frame 1 andis adapted to engage the teeth of the spur pinion 63. When the lever 50 is in the position shown in Fig. 5 the plunger 93 engages the teeth on the pinion 63 thereby preventing rotation of the latter, and as a result the tail conveyor is locked against swinging movement. When the lever 50 is swung in one direction or the other one of the inclined surfaces 92 forces the plunger into its released position.

The operation of the form of the improved tail-conveyor swinging mechanism shown in EigAais as follows. When it-isdesiredto swing the tail conveyor, the operator grasps the lever andshifts the sh ipper member, thereby connectingone or the other of the clutch members 53, 54 to the shaft 41, and as a result, the worm 67 is rotated by power, it be ing-understood thatlthe frontconveyor 7 is being-driven by the motor 10 at thattime. Due to the meshingengagement between the worm and worm gearsegment 68 the tail conveyor 8 is swung about its pivot 9 in the desired direction, lVhen it is desired to swing the tail conveyor8-in the opposite direction the shipper member46 is shifted in the opposite manner. If, for anyreason the tail conveyor 8 strikes someobstruction or is in any other way overloaded, the springs 71, 72 yield, thereby permitting the worm to slide axially relative to the shaft- 61, and as a result, breakage of-the swinging parts is prevented. The operation of the form of the'invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same, as that described above, withthe exception thatthewinding drum 75' winds in one of the cable portions 78, 7 9 while the other portion is unwound, and as a result the tail conveyor is swung about-its pivot 9. The plunger automatically locks the tail con veyor against swinging movement when the clutch shipper member 46 neutral position.

As a resultof'this invention an improved coal loading machine is provided having improved and simplified power operated swingingmechanism for the tail conveyor'drivendirectly. by the front conveyor chains. It will further be noted that bydriving the tail conveyor swinging mechanism directly 'from' the front conveyor all complicated driving connections have been eliminated, the structure being of exceedingly simplified, rugged andcol'npact character. It Wlll further be noted that an improved tail conveyor swing ing mechanism is provided which may be manufactured ata minimum of cost andapplied to a coal loading machine of standard construction with a minimum of change.

, These and other uses and advantages ofthis invention will be clearly apparent to those skilled in this art.

While I have in this application specifically described two forms which my invention A assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the inven tion may be modified and embodied in various other-forms without departing from its spirit 6., orthe scope of the. appended claims. u,

by Letters Patent is:

1. Ina loading machine, a supporting WhatIclaim as new and desireto secure is in its released or on said supporting frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, devices for-drlvmg said gathering conveyor element, and meansdriven bysaid side cha1ns ofsaid gathering conveyor element for swinging saidtail conveyor relative to sa1d:support ing frame.

2. Ina loading frame, a gathering conveyor thereon comprising anendless conveyor element having endless side chains, a tail conveyor mount ed on said supporting frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, devices fordriving said gathering conveyor element,

and means driven by said side chainsof said gathering conveyor element for swinging said tail conveyor in either of opposite directions relative to'said supporting frame while said frame, sprockets fixed to said shaft and en gaging and driven by said side chains, and

connections between said shaft and the tail conveyor.

4. In a loading machlne, a supporting frame, a gathering conveyor thereon comprising an endless conveyor element having endless side chains, a tail conveyor mounted on said supporting frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, devices connected to the side chains of said gathering conveyor element for effecting drive thereof, and means for swinging said tail conveyor relative to saidsupporting frame including a transverse shaft journaled on said frame, sprocketsfixed to said shaft and engaging and driven by said side chains, and

connections between said shaft and the tail conveyor including a reversing mechanism operable at will for effecting swinging of said tail conveyor in eitherof opposite directions while the gathering conveyor element operates continuously'in the same direction.

5. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a gathering conveyor thereon comprising an endless gatheringconveyor element having side chains, a tail conveyor mounted on said supporting frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, devicesengag ng the side chains of said gath ering conveyor element for effecting drive thereof, and means for swinging said tail conveyor relative to said supporting frame including parallel horizontal transverselyex machine, a supporting tending shafts, sprockets fixed to one of said shafts and engaging and driven by the side chains of the gathering conveyor element, a plurality of clutch elements arranged coaxially with and rotatable relative to one of said shafts, driving connections between each of said clutch elements and said other shaft, and means for alternatively connecting said clutch elements to said coaxial shaft.

6. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a gathering conveyor thereon comprising an endless gathering conveyor element having side chains, a tail conveyor mounted on said supporting frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, devices engaging the side chains of said gathering conveyor element for effecting drive thereof, and means for swinging said tail conveyor relative to said supporting frame including parallel horizontal transversely-extending shafts, sprockets fixed to one of said shafts and engaging and driven by the side chains of the gathering conveyor element, a plurality of clutch elements arranged coaxially with and rotatable relative to one of said shafts, driving connections between each of said clutch elements and said other shaft, means for alternatively connecting said clutch elements to said coaxial shaft, and cooperating gear elements operatively connecting one of said shafts to said tail conveyor.

7 In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a front conveyor mounted thereon comprising an endless conveyor element, a

rear conveyor mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, and mechanism for swinging said rear conveyor relative to said frame comprising a transverse shaft journaled in said frame and having elements thereon driven directly by said endless conveyor element, a parallel shaft, a reversing mechanism in the drive between said'shafts controllable at will for effecting rotation of said second shaft in either of opposite directions while said first shaft rotates continuously in the same direction, a gear driven by said second shaft, and a gear element connected to the rear conveyor and with which'said gear meshes.

8. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a front conveyor mounted thereon comprising an endless conveyor element, a rear conveyor mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative there to, and mechanism for swinging said rear conveyor relative to said frame comprising a transverse shaft journaled in said frame and having elements thereon driven directly by said endless conveyor element, a parallel shaft, a reversing mechanism in the drive between said shafts controllable at will for effecting rotation of said second shaft in either of opposite directions while said first shaft rotatescontinuouslv in the same direction, a gear driven by said second shaft, a gear element connected to the rear conveyor and with which said gear meshes, and means permitting said gear to yield relative to its shaft upon overload of the swinging mechanism.

9. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a front gathering conveyor thereon comprising an endless conveyor element having endless side chains, a rear conveyor mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, and mechanism for swinging said rear conveyor relative to said frame comprising a transverse shaft journaled in said frame, sprockets fixed to said shaft and engaging and driven by the side chains of the gathering conveyor element, a parallel shaft journaled in said frame, driving connections between said shafts, a drum driven by said second shaft, and a cable wound on said drum and attached to the rear conveyor.

10. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a front gathering conveyor thereon comprising an endless conveyor element having endless side chains, a rear conveyor mounted on said framelfor horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, and mechanism for swinging said rear conveyor in either of opposite directions while the gathering conveyor operates continuously in the same direction comprising a transverse shaft journaled in said frame, sprockets fixed to said shaft and engaging and driven by the side chains of the gathering conveyor element, a parallel shaft journaled in said frame, a reversing mechanism in the drive between said shafts, a drum driven by said second shaft, and a cable wound on said drum and attached to the rear conveyor.

11. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a front conveyor thereon including an endless conveyor element, a rear conveyor mounted on said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative thereto, a motor for driving said front and rear conveyors, and

mechanism for swinging said rear conveyor in either of opposite directions without reversing said motor, comprising connections driven directly by the endless conveyor elementof the front conveyor.

12. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a gathering conveyor thereon including an endless conveyor element, a tail conveyor mounted on said supporting frame for swinging movement relative thereto, devices for driving said gathering conveyor element, and means driven by said endless gathering conveyor elementfor swinging said tail conveyor relative to said supporting frame.

18. In a loading machine, a supporting frame, a gatheringconveyor thereon comprising an endless conveyor element, a tail conveyor mounted on said supporting frame for swinging movement relative thereto, de-

JOHN ROSS. 

